NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — A Massachusetts man will spend the rest of his life in prison for a 2009 Newport News murder.
A judge on Tuesday sentenced 36-year-old James Benson for his role in the shooting death of Louis Joseph Jr.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Benson and two other men — Mark Xavier Wallace of Williamsburg and Bryan Lamar Brown, of Newport News — shot and killed Louis Joseph Jr. of Newport News. A jury convicted the trio in April.
Court documents show Benson beat and shot Joseph at his home while he was babysitting a 5-year-old.
Brown was sentenced earlier this month to 45 years for his role in Joseph’s death.
Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 6.
